Chapter 18
Bianca shoved the door open and stormed into the house before the anger boiling inside her had a chance to spill over into reckless action. The living room lights were already on, casting a warm gold across the wide space and the dark wood floors. It should have felt comforting.
It didn’t.
She spun around the second she heard the door close, grabbed the nearest pillow from the sofa, and hurled it straight at his head.
He knocked it aside easily. “Feel better?”
“No.” Her chest rose and fell quickly as she glared at him. Which was a mistake. Because he looked infuriatingly good standing there.
His broad chest filled out that dark shirt, jeans riding low on his hips, boots still dusty from Billy Rockefeller’s yard. And that whole dangerous, don’t-mess-with-me attitude that had been on full display when he’d grabbed Billy by the throat and nearly shaken the life out of him.
The memory flashed through her mind. The strength in his arms. The way he’d stepped in front of her without hesitation. The way he’d protected her.
Terrifying.
Impressive.
Intriguing.
And horribly, terribly, undeniably sexy. She’d deal with that later. Right now she was furious. “You lied to me,” she said.
“I did not.”
Bianca crossed her arms. “We had last night and this morning together. You knew I planned to use the Willoughby house.” Her voice sharpened. “You knew it.”
Adam exhaled slowly, his chest expanding beneath the dark cotton of his shirt. “I tried to tell you,” he said. “But you said no business.”
“You should have said something anyway.”
His jaw flexed. “Yeah,” he admitted quietly. “I should have.”
The words nearly dropped her to the floor. She stared at him. “Did you just apologize?”
He gave a short, humorless chuckle. The anger still burned in his eyes, but a softer glimmer moved beneath it now. “I was wrong. I should’ve told you about the Willoughbys even though you told me not to.”
She blinked. That… had not been the response she expected. “Okay. Well now. Don’t do it again.”
He planted one hand on his hip, watching her closely. “Your turn.”
She lifted her chin, her spine straightening with each stubborn vertebra. “Me? I didn’t do anything wrong. I have a job to do.” The second the words left her mouth she knew it had been the wrong thing to say.
Adam moved.
Fast.
She barely had time to gasp before he closed the distance between them. His hands caught her around the waist and lifted her clean off the floor. “Hey—” Her protest turned into a squeak as he pinned her gently, but very firmly, against the wall. He was warm, solid, and completely immovable.
Her breath caught.
“I strongly suggest you apologize and promise not to put yourself in danger again,” he said.
“No.” She wouldn’t give in on this, damn it.
His eyes darkened. “All right.” Then he kissed her. Hard.
She’d meant to stay angry. But the second his mouth took hers, the fire between them exploded. The kiss wasn’t sweet or even sexy. It was fierce. Demanding. Full of frustration and dominance. A whole lot of it.
She grabbed his shirt before she even realized what she was doing.
Adam made a rough sound in his throat. “Still mad?” he whispered against her mouth.
“Yes.”
“Good.” Then he kissed her again, slower this time, deeper, the anger between them melting into heat that rolled through her body.
Her fingers slid up into his hair. She wrapped her legs around his waist without thinking, clinging to him, her body primed and ready right now. For all of him.
“Bianca,” he breathed, her name sounding different coming from him now, lower and rougher. She rested her forehead against his for a second, both of them breathing hard. “You’re gonna apologize, baby. Make it easy on yourself and do it now.”
It took a second for the words to register. She jerked, leaning back, her hair brushing across his shoulders and hers. “I won’t.”
His smile was full of wicked determination. “One more chance.”
Her abdomen rolled, and her sex softened. Totally not in sync with her brain.
The man was solid muscle, nearly invincible.
She’d noticed that earlier when he’d hauled Billy Rockefeller around like a rag doll. Noticed it when he’d dragged her back into the truck. Noticed it when he’d looked at her like she was both infuriating and irresistible.
Now she felt it everywhere.
“Too late,” he murmured.
She jolted. “I don’t understand.” Even so, she shot both hands into his thick hair and tugged. “I’m not scared of you.” Sure, he was terrifying when pissed. At least with Billy. But not with her.
“Good, although I haven’t been clear, apparently.” He moved then, forcing her to wrap her legs around his waist to hold on tighter as he walked out of the living room toward his bedroom. “While you’re here, while we’re dating, it’s my job to keep you safe.”
How utterly old-fashioned, kind of sweet, and a mite objectionable. “I can keep myself safe.”
“Oh yeah? Is that what you were thinking when you ran straight for me?”
No. Billy had the shotgun and she’d seen Adam, instinctively running toward safety. She’d known he’d protect her. “Okay. I get that.” She kissed him then, her legs wide around his hips, muscle pressing against her.
“Good. So if you put yourself in danger, if you’re the one at fault, that makes me very unhappy.” He kissed her back, his mouth taking command. Easily. Then he released her. “If someone like Billy makes me unhappy, I choke them.”
She tried to keep track of the conversation. “What if I make you unhappy?” Her voice quivered as her brain tried for curiosity, and her body tried for an overwhelming feeling from heated male surrounding her.
“Well, I can’t choke you.” His voice was soft, low. “But I can spank you to orgasm.”
Her clit flashed wide awake and ached in her panties. Her nipples sharpened to hard points in her bra. Her breath caught in her lungs, totally trapped. She had to swallow twice before she could speak. “Erm. No.”
“Not giving you much of a choice, darlin.’” He sat her on the bed and took off her sweater in one impossibly smooth motion. His shirt followed hers, revealing all of that hard muscle. “You’re going to want to appease me and soon.”
Shirtless, his hands going to his jeans to drop them to the floor, he was out of a dream. Male. Sexy. Wild.
“I don’t like the word appease,” she whispered.
He unzipped her jeans, somehow lifted her, and drew them off along with her panties. Her socks and bra soon followed, all too smoothly, and then she was naked. Completely. “How about the word spank?”
A startled cough rippled from her. “Don’t think I like that one, either.” But she wasn’t entirely sure. They’d just started dating, and her mind kept fuzzing. But the look in his eyes, dark and hungry, gave her confidence. “So, no?” Dang it. She sounded uncertain.
“Interesting.” He pushed her back, his hands firm on her thighs as he ran them down to her knees, careful of her still bruised one.
She tried to sit up, and he flattened one of his hands across her stomach, holding her down. Desire ripped through her. Just as she tried to argue, about what she wasn’t sure, his heated breath brushed her clit.
Holy wow.
He licked her, knowing exactly how much pressure to give. The guy was a quick study, and he really seemed to like this. She relaxed, and he kissed her mound as if in approval.
“Are we still fighting?” she asked, needing to know the answer.
“Nope. Never really were.” He licked her, slow and sure. Humming with what sounded like pleasure. Live wires whipped through her, from his talented mouth. “You’re just learning how to behave.”
Oh, he did not. “Wait a minute—”
He nipped her clit, instantly getting her attention. “You taste like heaven, and I could do this for days. Behave yourself, or you’re gonna beg, and it’s not gonna be fun.” Slowly, he pressed one finger into her.
She whimpered, totally out of her element. Not once in her life had she felt like this. On the edge but nowhere near, and kind of out of control and confused but turned on. Another finger joined the first, and he crisscrossed them. She gasped, arching into him.
His chuckle held danger. He brought her right to the edge, using his mouth, tongue, and fingers, not quite giving her enough friction to push her over. Need rippled down her legs, and she curled her toes.
He was killing her. Slowly but certainly.
Sweat slicked her brow and she pressed a hand to her head. “I’d rather you just choked me,” she gasped.
He chuckled against her clit, sending barbed electricity through her entire body.
“Sorry. Spanking is about as dangerous as I get.” He sucked her clit into his mouth.
“Although I’m not opposed to tying you up.
” Wetness tickled her inner thigh, and his chuckle darkened.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He drove her back up and then let off the pressure.
“Please, Adam,” she whispered, so damn close it hurt.
“Hmm. All right. I’m still waiting for that apology.” He added a third finger, stretching her almost painfully.
She gulped. “No.”
Smack.
Her eyelids opened. Wide. Her body jerked. Fire lashed through her. He had not.
Smack. Right on the clit. A second time.
“I’m sorry,” she hissed out, fast and wild. “So sorry.” She couldn’t orgasm like that, not right now. Wasn’t ready for that level of intimacy.
“Good girl.” He licked her again, nipping her clit, and finally sending her spiraling over that ledge.
She cried out, detonating into too many pieces to ever put back together. Painful pleasure ripped inside her body, taking everything she had. She arched into him, her nails digging into the bedspread, her body jerking in manic waves. Finally, mumbling his name, her body calmed.
He moved up her, all muscle and heat. “You’re so sweet when you apologize.”
She wanted to punch him, maybe insult him, but she had no doubt he’d retaliate, and his mouth took hers. Deep and dark, kissing her, surrounding her with strength.